One-time solution to weed
out bogus cards.
The size of cards will be
1.5 times more than a postcard
The beneficiaries will be
given coupons to buy commodities
BHUBANESWAR: Eyeing at a one-time
solution to bamboozling of food ration cards in
Orissa, World Food Programme (WFP) and the State
government have embarked upon a pilot scheme
introducing iris recognition, a biometric
technology, in Rayagada district.
Prints of 10 fingers of beneficiaries
are also being taken in order to nullify chances
of any duplicity and do away with bogus cards.
When documentation of iris as well as fingerprints
will be completed, people will be issued new
laminated card replacing old rations cards that
tend to fall into pieces with passage of time.
“Iris part of eyes of human beings are unique.
They cannot be duplicated by any means. Although
Andhra Pradesh had started the iris-based ration
cards a couple years ago, those have never been
used to eliminate bogus cards. In Rayagada, we
intend to streamline the distribution of cards by
removing ghost beneficiaries,” WFP State Director
B. K.Bal told The
Hindu here on
Friday.
Documentation
As part of innovative scheme, snaps of
people’s iris will be taken in three blocks such
as Rayagada, Ramanguda and Gudari while in rest
eight blocks, only fingerprints will be recorded.
The WFP has roped in Bangalore-based COMAT
Technologies and Hyderabad-based 4G Informatics to
implement the pilot project that would cost Rs. 2
crore. “We have started works in four panchayats
of Rayagada block. Personnel divided into 30 units
have been engaged to carry out the works. We
expect to complete the documentation process by
September and distribution of cards by December,”
Mr. Bal said.
He said the size of cards would be 1.5
times more than a postcard that would consist of
name of the beneficiary as well as other members
of the family along with their photographs. The
ration cards could become one of the most
authenticated government documents. However, the
project would not come to an end with the
distribution of ration cards. The beneficiary
would be given coupons for purchasing commodities
from fair price shops. “This would ensure no
manipulation at the shop owners’ end. We will
monitor the programme for one year after which the
model will be handed over to State government for
further implementation,” the WFP State Director
said.
It has been
alleged time and again that there have been a
large number of bogus
ration cards existing in public distribution
system. As a result, real beneficiaries have
failed to avail essential commodities from fair
price shops.
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